Dalai Lama says Beijing ought to relax censorship

AFP, WASHINGTON

Sun, Mar 09, 2014 - Page 5

The Dalai Lama on Friday said China should ease its strict censorship, saying that the world’s most populous nation would only achieve its full potential through greater freedoms.

Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, on his latest visit to the US which was condemned by Beijing, said that he supported the Chinese people, but believed that they suffered “disrespect” from the communist system.

“1.3 billion Chinese people have every right to know the reality. Once 1.3 billion people know reality, they also have the ability to judge what is right, what is wrong,” he said, adding that censorship in a globalized world cannot exist “only within China.”

The Dalai Lama, who fled his homeland for India in 1959 during an abortive uprising against Chinese rule, also called on China to bring its judiciary to “international standards.”

The Nobel Peace Prize winner on Thursday met the leadership of the US Congress and on Feb. 21 visited the White House to see US President Barack Obama.

China on Friday urged congressional leaders to “stop conniving” with the monk.

Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of plotting to split Tibet from China, but the Dalai Lama has said that he accepts Chinese rule and is only seeking greater autonomy and respect for human rights.

Questioned on why China was angered by his meetings in Washington, the Dalai Lama said with a laugh: “Ask them.”

The Dalai Lama said he suspected that his outspokenness has upset Beijing, telling the audience: “I am not acting like, ‘Yes, minister,’ [to] whatever they say.”